2021 Nottingham Cellars The Pivot Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 750 ml

The review’s publication date was a month away. But the shock waves were already here.   

That’s because Nottingham Cellars’ The Pivot Cabernet earned a stunning 96-point score from Wine Enthusiast, which, for a while, put it at the pinnacle of the magazine’s 2021 Napa Cabernet ratings. Their company at the top? Shafer One Point Five and TOR. 

At the winery price, this bottle is right in line with the competition from the aforementioned icons. But the price we got was nearly unbelievable—the kind you rarely (if ever) see for one of the top-performing Cabernets of the vintage.  

Founded in 2009, Nottingham has carved out a great niche in the Livermore Valley, where they’re based. But after about a decade of success at home, they decided to make a change and get out of their comfort zone. So they took their talents north and west to Napa Valley to test them out on a bigger stage. 

Out-of-town winemakers making their first foray into the Napa Valley big leagues—you’d assume they’d need a good half-decade to get their feet under them, to make connections, to hit their stride. They’d improve slowly, incrementally, and after maybe five or ten years steeped in Napa Valley, they’d start seeing some real success. 

Not quite. These new arrivals have gone straight to the top with this wine. It’s no accident, given the fantastic provenance: The wine is made from Clone 7 Cabernet grown on the Oakview Vineyard in Oakville, which is a partnership between two eminent families, the Sangiacomos and the Nords. Lent a touch of aromatics by Cabernet Franc and some heft and density by Petit Verdot, this is top-shelf Napa Valley Cabernet.